En Bait Collectors and Other Shoreline Uses
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Guidelines for managing the collection of bait and other shoreline animals within UK European marine sites December 1999 S L Fowler The Nature Conservation Bureau Ltd. 36 Kingfisher Court Hambridge Road Newbury Berkshire RG14 5SJ Prepared for the UK Marine SACs Project, Task Manager Helen Davis, English Nature. This report is produced as part of the UK Marine SACs Project – a joint venture involving English Nature, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Environment and Heritage Services Northern Ireland and Scottish Association for Marine Science, and the financial support of the European Commission’s LIFE- Nature Programme. 1 Guidelines for managing the collection of bait and other shoreline animals within UK European marine sites Acknowledgements Jim Andrews (Marine Environmental Liaison Officer, North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee), Philip Ball (National Trust), Natasha Barker (Teignbridge District Council), Martin Bradley and Graham Seymour (DOE Northern Ireland), Russell Bradley (Association of Sea Fisheries Committees of England and Wales), Peter Cadman and Peter Cowin (SeaBait Ltd.), Mike Camplin, Gabrielle Moffat, Bill Sanderson and Dave Worral (Countryside Council for Wales), Phil Coates, Bill Davies and Ben Williams (South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee), Victoria Copley, Jo Crix, Helen Vine and many other marine SAC officers, Sarah Coles, Helen Davies, Paul Knapman, John Torlesse and Stuart Peacock (English Nature), Ted Creaser and Chris Finlayson (Maine Department of Marine Resources, USA), Colin Davies (South West Federation of Sea Anglers), Bob Deacon and Frank White (National Association of Boat Angling Clubs), Tony Farrell (Legal Department, Alnwick District Council), John Gaze (Tenby District Angling Club), Philip Gibbon, Mr Gillard, Duncan Huggett (RSPB), Bob James (University of East Anglia), Stephen Lockwood and Stuart Rogers (CEFAS), John Maslin (MEPD), Dan Minchin (Marine Institute, Fisheries Research Centre, Dublin), Frank Nesbitt (National Federation of Sea Anglers), Peter Olive (University of Newcastle), Michelle Perry (New South Wales Fisheries, Sydney, Australia), Tim Robbins (Devon Sea Fisheries Committee), David Rowe (National Federation of Sea Anglers), Roland Sharp, Liz Sides (National Parks and Wildlife, Duchas, the Heritage Service, Dublin), Tony Smith (Topsy Baits), Mike Sutherland (Chief Executive and Harbour Master, Fowey Harbour Commissioners), Huw Thomas (DETR), and many others whose names have been omitted in error. Citation: Fowler, S.L. 1999. Guidelines for managing the collection of bait and other shoreline animals within UK European marine sites. English Nature (UK Marine SACs Project). 132 pages. 2 Guidelines for managing the collection of bait and other shoreline animals within UK European marine sites Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 2 Preface...................................................................................................................................... 7 Executive summary ................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 1. Introduction....................................................................................................... 15 1.1 The UK Marine SACs Project .......................................................................................... 15 1.2 Objectives and scope of these guidelines ........................................................................... 15 1.3 Background to European marine sites................................................................................ 16 1.4 How to use the Guidelines................................................................................................. 19 Chapter 2. Target species ................................................................................................... 21 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 21 2.2 Species most commonly collected..................................................................................... 21 2.3 Legal status....................................................................................................................... 23 2.4 Utilisation of species ......................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 3. The impacts of shoreline species collection....................................................... 27 3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Scale of bait collection activity.......................................................................................... 27 3.3 Availability of bait supplies............................................................................................... 28 3.4 Hand digging .................................................................................................................... 32 3.5 Bait pumping .................................................................................................................... 39 3.6 Hand picking..................................................................................................................... 41 3.7 Provision of crab shelters .................................................................................................. 43 3.8 Bait dragging .................................................................................................................... 45 3.9 Worm dredging ................................................................................................................. 47 3.10 Bait farming and imports................................................................................................... 49 3.11Conclusions and gaps in knowledge .................................................................................. 51 Chapter 4. Legal framework ............................................................................................... 55 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 55 4.2 Summary of findings......................................................................................................... 55 4.2.1 The public right to collect bait.................................................................................. 55 4.2.2 Regulation of fisheries (seafish and shellfish)........................................................... 56 4.2.3 Regulation of bait worm collection........................................................................... 56 4.2.4 Several and Regulating Orders ................................................................................. 57 4.2.5 Landowners’ rights .................................................................................................. 57 4.2.6 Structures on the shore............................................................................................. 58 4.2.7 Legislation and Byelaw-making powers................................................................... 58 4.3 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 5. Management options ......................................................................................... 65 5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 65 5.2 Voluntary Codes of Conduct............................................................................................. 68 5.3 Participation in local management initiatives..................................................................... 70 3 Guidelines for managing the collection of bait and other shoreline animals within UK European marine sites 5.4 Bag limits ......................................................................................................................... 70 5.5 Licensing .......................................................................................................................... 71 5.6 Closed seasons.................................................................................................................. 72 5.7 Zonation............................................................................................................................ 72 5.8 Closure of bait beds........................................................................................................... 73 5.9 Prohibition of commercial bait collection activities ........................................................... 74 5.10 Development of regional strategies for management of bait collection .............................. 74 5.11 Improving retail sources of bait......................................................................................... 75 5.12 Utilising and improving regulating legislation................................................................... 75 References .............................................................................................................................. 77 Tables Table 1. The most commonly collected shoreline species......................................................